Seeking the Gift of Personal Revelation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seeking the Gift of Personal Revelation. LILI ANDERSON, LCSW, PH.D. BYU OPAC CONFERENCE 13 MARCH 2009. “…seek ye earnestly the best gifts” (D&C 46:8). WE WILL REVIEW: -- WHY we MUST learn the language of the Spirit in order to live safely and peacefully in the latter days.

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…I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way.

…feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

…if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

Ask the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”

Prepare to Receive

Yield to the Will of God

Respect Stewardship Keys

Learn how God communicates with His children

Keys to Revelation

Stand Ye in Holy Places the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”, 138–42, 144–45

Harold B. Lee

If we will live worthy, then the

Lord will guide us—

by a personal appearance,

or by His actual voice,

or by His voice coming into our mind,

or by impressions upon our heart and our soul.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”“Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 14).

Visions do happen. Voices are heard from beyond the veil. I know this. But these experiences are exceptional. … Most of the revelation that comes to leaders and members of the Church comes by the still, small voice or by a feeling rather than by a vision or a voice that speaks specific words we can hear.

Ask the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”

He uses a still, small voice to communicate to our minds and hearts. D&C 8:2–3; 85:6

He enlightens our minds.D&C 6:15; D&C 11:13-14

He brings peace to our minds.D&C 6:22-23

He may cause a burning in the bosom.D&C 9:7-8

Elder Dallin H. Oaks the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”“Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 14).

What does a “burning in the bosom” mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word “burning” in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity.

Truly, the still, small voice is just that, “still” and “small.”

Elder Boyd K. Packer the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”That All May Be Edified [1982], 335.

These delicate, refined spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes nor heard with our ears. And even though it is described as a voice, it is a voice that one feels more than one hears.

A person who petitions the Lord for guidance must be worthy to receive it. His life must be in harmony and in keeping with the standards the Lord has prescribed for His children. His life must be in good standing before God and His people. It must be in harmony with the teachings of the scriptures, the prophets, and the order of the Church.

It isn’t the Lord who withholds himself from us. It is we who withhold ourselves from him because of our failure to keep his commandments.

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

A Few More Thoughts on Revelation--

Bruce R. McConkie Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

…we’re faced with two propositions.

One is that we ought to be guided by

the spirit of inspiration, the spirit of revelation. The other is that we’re here under a direction to use our agency, to determine what we ought to do on our own; and we need to strike a fine balance between these two….

“Agency or Inspiration?,” New Era, Jan 1975, 38 (emphasis added).

Bruce R. McConkie Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

Well, maybe it will be a little shock to you,

but never in my life did I ever ask the Lord

whom I ought to marry. … I went out and found the girl I wanted; she suited me; I evaluated and weighed the proposition, and it just seemed a hundred percent to me as though this ought to be.

“Agency or Inspiration?,” New Era, Jan 1975, 38.

William E. Berrett Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)Administrator of Seminaries and Institutesof Religion for The Church, quoted by Dallin Oaks

“Those who pray that the Spirit might give them immediate guidance in every little thing throw themselves open to false spirits that seem ever ready to answer our pleas and confuse us. … The people I have found most confused in this Church are those who seek personal revelations on everything.

(quoted in The Holy Ghost, 29–30, emphasis added).

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

“Stop me, if I’m making a mistake.”

If we truly seek His will, the Lord is on our side.

Keep peddling

“Move forward in Faith.”

A Few More Thoughts on Revelation--

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

“Stop me, if I’m making a mistake.”

If we truly seek His will, the Lord is on our side.

Keep peddling

“Move forward in Faith.”

Righteous Stewards and the Patriarchal Order

A Few More Thoughts on Revelation--

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

“Stop me, if I’m making a mistake.”

If we truly seek His will, the Lord is on our side.

Keep peddling

“Move forward in Faith.”

Righteous Stewards and the Patriarchal Order

You can’t stop God from blessing you if you deserve it.

A Few More Thoughts on Revelation--

D&C 121:33 Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

“Stop me, if I’m making a mistake.”

If we truly seek His will, the Lord is on our side.

Keep peddling

“Move forward in Faith.”

Righteous Stewards and the Patriarchal Order

You can’t stop God from blessing you if you deserve it.

Recognize God’s kindness and patience with us.

A Few More Thoughts on Revelation--

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

President [David O.] McKay taught us this in the temple one day. … “I want to tell you one thing: When the Lord tells you what to do, you’ve got to have the courage to do it or you had better not ask him again.” I’ve learned that lesson, too.… it takes a lot of courage to act when directed as an answer to prayers.

Don’t overdo it. Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)